Dave LaCourse wrote:


Most of the land up there is owned by paper companies (as is most of Maine
ftm). This is not about compensation but about greed. The company that wants
to "develop" the river is doing it simply to please some of the higher
mucky-ups in the company. For example, the condos will be out of reach of most
folks, especially those who fish this wonderful river. The first offerings
will be to executives of the company. The entire ecosystem of the Rapid is in
danger if this goes through.

The New England states are not like the Western states. Our population density
is emmense. We have only a few more places like the Rapid. To open this
pristine land and river to the wealthy will do much harm.





I'm VERY much in favor of preserving places like the Rapid but feel that
there are legitimate compensations that need to be paid to the land
owner who is giving up some of his rights. In CO, the BLM and the Nation
Forest will often do land swaps in cases like this or some monetary
compensation can be paid. It doesn't matter if the land is owned by a
private person or a wealthy corporation. If you place new restrictions
on land that rule out development, that land loses much of its value and
I think the land owner is entitled to compensation for this loss.

Willi